I've had TMJ since I was 12 years old. I'm 34 now, so it's been a 22-year-old problem for me. I'm fortunate that mine doesn't cause a huge amount of daily problems. I've had one bad experience in which it locked and when I forced it open it popped something awful. It caused me a lot of ear pain. So much that I actually thought I had an ear ache and went to the doctor to make certain. I know to not force it open now. I think it was a panic moment at that time. I have noticed that it's slowly getting worse as I get older. It's difficult to be out in the cold. It aches worse and I have trouble talking. The dentist visits are getting very hard. I end up w/ a headache and a jaw ache afterwards. I think I was fortunate to have a good orthodontist when it first started who tried to fix it. He managed to minimize the popping sound which could be heard all the way across a large room and corrected my overbite, but it never fully rid of the TMJ. Now it pops, but only I hear it which I'm thankful for as it would be embarrassing now. I have been told surgery is really a last resort and my pain and problems right now do not warrant for it and I hope never do.

I am 51, and I have been living with TMJ since I was in my early 20's. I have gone through treatment several times, and it gets very costly! The joints on both sides are totally deteriorated. I guess my jaw is locked shut. I am able to open my mouth one finger wide. I taught myself how to speak with very little movement in my jaw. However by doing so, at the end of the day my whole head, neck, and shoulders are killing me. I'm thinking I might need to learn how to sign, because at the rate I'm going, speaking may no longer be an option for me. I am so frightened of what's to come! Mostly because I can no longer afford treatment. My TMJ has never gone away, it has only gotten worse! What is a person to do when nothing seems to help! TMJ has prevented me from even keeping a steady job.

I'm 39. I was told a few years ago I had TMJ. Back then the pain was bearable I was able to study/work. Now in my late 3o's the pain has gotten worse. Everytime I'm pregnant the jaw ache/headaches come back, then disappears for a few months. Lately after my two miscarriages, I've noticed the pain has gotten worse. I get visual disturbances and now feel unable to cope with it, especially when you have 2 young children. I feel scared to do anything in case I get stressed then the pain reappears. There must be some cure. I will try acupuncture/complimentary medicine. The thought of living my life like this and not able to enjoy my kids saddens me. I know there are many people out there with serious conditions so I feel blessed in some ways mine isn't life-threatening. I pray that I will get better. I hope everyone finds a cure. I feel I can't tell people how I feel as they won't really understand.

I've had jaw pain, ear pain, some facial tingling on and off, headaches/migraines, and the most irritating popping and stiffness in my jaw for years now. I'm 26. More recently it has been so bad... It started on one side of my teeth, then migrated to my entire lower jaw, then progressed into my whole head and face, and neck hurting for days. Dizziness, nausea. Nothing really helps so far except stretching it, or drinking hot things, hot compresses. It's frustrating! I had no clue what it could be, my mom kept saying, maybe it's TMJ... I didn't think much of it until I finally looked it up, and ALL the symptoms match exactly!

This sucks!!!! I have had this problem for about 17 years. I just turned 30 and i never thought that my life would be of such discomfort. in the beginning of August my face became numb first then the right side of my tongue and overnight, it went to my right side of my face. I was in and out of the hospital wanting to die of the pain had to drop out of nursing school, and wasn't able to tend to my four children. It is now September and all the symptons are still there, just not the dying pain. I have no life and I have to force myself to do anything. I just want to be normal again. I take so many pills and I am using a splint and I feel a little difference(very little). I need severe help.

Since I have TMJ before & it has gone away on its own. My primary doctor has said that it should just go away again. I can go to a dentist..but I have seen the mouth 'pieces' or 'guards' that they make for you to wear while you are sleeping. Personally, I don't think I would be a good candidate for one since I'm on oxygen at night.

I never clench or grind my teeth and I am constantly doing it now. The side of my face in front of my ear feels swollen, as does that side of my neck and the ear itself. My neck and shoulders ache, and I am constantly swallowing saliva. The back of my neck hurts. My ear rings and kind of feels numb at times. The predominant symptom I have is the neck pain. Even the bone in back of my last tooth feels swollen.

I have had joint pain and severe popping and cracking in my right jaw for 20 years. I am now 35. I have tried all the recommended treatments and have had very little success (braces, night guards etc.). I experience headaches, ear fullness and pain, facial pain in front of my ear, extreme pain when opening my mouth wide to yawn or laugh or eat followed by cracking (that can be heard up to 5 feet away) and dislocation.